Firms doing business in multilingual societies need to decide what languages to use for communications, product packaging and advertising. Rule of thumb: Go for the simplest of words, express one idea in each sentence and avoid culture-specific references (e.g., he sings like Frank Sinatra).

Below we’ve created a humorous list of gaffes from around the world. Have a laugh or two but remember: The importance of understanding the language of a country cannot be overestimated!

WEGG Mission

Our mission is to educate women business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide on how to go global so they can run healthier businesses and create a new future for themselves, their families and their community.